NUS Research: Overview
A Leading Research-Intensive University in the heart of Asia
Consistently ranked as one of the top universities in Asia and the world1, the National University of Singapore (NUS) is widely respected and internationally known for its high-quality research in science, technology and the humanities – and increasingly, the interfaces between these areas. Its 16 Schools and Faculties, as well as its 23 university-level research institutes and centres, focus on critical issues confronting Asia and the world. NUS is also home to three of Singapore’s five Research Centres of Excellence (RCEs) – specialising in quantum technologies, cancer and mechanobiology – and is a partner in a fourth RCE that draws on NUS' strengths in life sciences and sustainability research.
Much of NUS' research is integrated and multi-disciplinary in nature, with particular emphasis on themes such as integrated sustainability solutions for energy, water and the environment; ageing populations; biomedical sciences and translational medicine; global-Asian studies; finance and risk management; and materials science.
In 2011, NUS had more than 2,000 research active faculty who produced over 8,700 publications and filed more than 380 patents. Over 220 national and international research awards and prizes were given to NUS faculty. The overall level of primary research published by NUS has led to its output being recognised by Thomson Reuters as being in the top 1% in 18 out of 22 categories surveyed. NUS faculty serve as consultants and advisors to more than 50 industry and government bodies. Many leading companies have chosen to establish research labs and partnerships at NUS including Siemens, GE, Zeiss and Agilent.
The NUS Kent Ridge Campus, which includes the National University Hospital, is located within Singapore's main research district. Its neighbours include the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) in University Town, which brings together top researchers from around the world (including MIT, ETH Zurich, Technion Israel, Shanghai Jiaotong, Cambridge); the A*STAR biomedical and engineering research institutes at Biopolis and Fusionopolis respectively; as well as a variety of public and private labs at the Science Parks. This co-location promotes collaboration and synergy between NUS and the wider R&D community, and creates a fertile environment for innovation and enterprise.